[Small Farmer]

....and then they grow up!

[Tilly]

 love it!!
Tilly

[Blinkers]

No matter what the weather, the lambs bring a BIG smile to my face every morning - they've just decided chasing chickens is quite a good game too     

This little flock are fantastic and I owe a HUGE THANK YOU to HAZLEWOOD who got me started with the foundation flock and who is a constant source of help and advice on all things 'GreyfaceDartmoor' - she even got me into 'showing' for the first time last year         Thanks mate x

[kaz]

How do you show the Greyface Dartmoors, are they shorn at a specific time of year like they Ryelands and then  made all nice and pretty or are they shown with some of that lovely fleece on? 

[Blinkers]

How do you show the Greyface Dartmoors, are they shorn at a specific time of year like they Ryelands and then  made all nice and pretty or are they shown with some of that lovely fleece on? 

No, none of that faffing around (which is why I decided to have a go).... you just have to tidy up the face a bit and the legs and "Bobs your uncle"     Having said that, they are sheared early (end April/beg of may time I think is the norm) and then they've grown a full fleece back ready for showing time.   
 
PS. ......and guess what 'Karen' had this year !!??........ Twin ram lambs.....doh......so STILL haven't had a nice gimmer out of her.   Mind you, LOVELY tup lambs 

[Hazelwood Flock]

You're most welcome Blinkers! 
Showing early in the year (i.e Devon County Show) involves preparing a full fleece, separating it all into it's individual locks. It takes about 2 hours per sheep. Summer shows just require the sheep to be tidy - Greyface Dartmoors are not washed or carded and trimmed, they are shown in their 'working clothes' and just tidied up. It's great fun, but you have to jump in with both feet!

[feldar]

No carding!!!!  i want one   see you at Devon God willing that's our annual holiday! i get really tipsy in darkie's den after showing OH had to carry me back to the tent up that bloody hill nearly killed me!

[Hazelwood Flock]

Nice one feldar! I love Devon County, such a nice friendly show and huge classes for us Dartmoors. I'll look out for you at Darkie's Den...any distinguishing features (apart from being horizontal!!)

[feldar]

Red wine lover!! will come and find you, i'm with the hampshires, not local but they don't seem to care. Love that show  still a proper agricultural show not a dressed up car boot sale!

[Bramblecot]

1st ram lamb born 4-5 days premature on Saturday, sadly has a badly undershot jaw (thought it might be 'you-know-what '    .   But this evening another first-time mum has produced a ram so stunningly handsome that I have had to call him Clooney.  Such is the way of things...
Must go out for another peek at him

[Blinkers]

Showing early in the year (i.e Devon County Show) involves preparing a full fleece, separating it all into it's individual locks. It takes about 2 hours per sheep.

Yikes - I had no idea you did all that    You must be up all the night before doing that ? ;

[kaz]

Probably a stupid question, but do you wash them first?

[Hazelwood Flock]

Noooo! no washing! just faces and legs. Blinkers, we usually have our classes in the afternoon so I do them the weekend before the show then go over them the morning before judging. I only usually have 5 adult sheep in fleece to show, so not too onerous!

[Blinkers]

. I only usually have 5 adult sheep in fleece to show, so not too onerous!

ONLY !!!     

[onnyview]

So sweet! I have worked with Liz Dawson who has GFD and I get to see lots of photos! Never get enough of them!